Coast Guard crews continue to assist Mexican Navy in search

ALAMEDA, Calif. – A Coast Guard aircrew from Air Station Sacramento is assisting the Mexican Navy as search crews continue to look for survivors from the charter fishing vessel that sank in the Sea of Cortez, near Isla San Luis, Mexico, at approximately 2:30, Sunday morning.

Mexican authorities have reported that there are 37 people are accounted for with one confirmed death and seven still missing.

The C-130 Hercules aircrew arrived in the search area at approximately 12:30 p.m., today, and their first planned search will be 4.5 hours in length. The C-130 has a normal operating crew of seven during most search and rescue missions. The C-130 has a 3,000 mile range and is the Coast Guard’s primary long-range search and rescue asset.

The use of the C-130 allows search planners to expand the search area as well as re-search already covered areas.

Coast Guard helicopter crews from Air Station San Diego have been released from the case and have returned to base but will respond if needed.